Hello, I am Kim Minsook, a member of Sulwhasoo SEM team. Amorepacific has such a wide pool of experts. I have found many interesting fields of work during various meetings. And today I'd like to share information about my field – spa service – and hopefully it will be of help to those interested.

 I have been engaged in the spa service over ten years after I obtained a spa therapist certificate, both Korean and international. Take my column lightly as a means of sharing information and if there is wrong information, please tip me off.

 International Spa Association (ISPA) defines spas as places devoted to overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit. There are two theories about the origin of the term, spa. One is that it came from a small Belgium village called Spa and others believe that the term is an acronym of sante per aqua (health through water). Spas are associated with health improvement and treatment using water and its use recently has extended to cover a range of beauty services and massages.

 How, then, are spas different from aesthetics? Aesthetics is the study in relation to beauty and, in the beauty field, it involves beautifying the skin through services such as massage and mask provided by an aesthetician, i.e., skincare specialist. The skin here covers the whole body and the big difference between spa and aesthetics is in the use of water. In spas, skincare treatment (massage) is provided using water and devices, whereas aesthetic services do not use water. Devices used in spas include hydro bath (bath tub to improve muscular system and skin using bubbles and water pressure), vichy shower (table/bed to have a shower while laying down), foot tub, mist shower, wet bed using hay and dry ice making fog. Images below would make you feel like going on vocation and getting the services in a spa.

 What are the various types of spa available? A survey of 1,000 Korean women about their skincare shows that women aged between 20 and 60 go to spas, aesthetics shops and salons at least 1–2 times a month and spend about KRW 500,000. It has indeed became a common way of self-betterment and now that there are all different types of spas, women can choose and become regulars at the shop of their own liking. According to this survey, young women in their 20s and 30s tend to make more investment in themselves. At the same time, the number of male customers is growing. In fact, I saw three middle-aged men came to the shop and get the body treatment costing up to KRW 400,000 and thought that a short program exclusively for men will merit full consideration.

 Now I will tell you all different types of spa and how to identify each. First, spas are classified based on their location. Resort/hotel spa is located within a resort or hotel providing spa services along with fitness components (sauna, spa, catering and fitness equipment). Hotel guests are allowed to use facilities and pay only for the spa services, or otherwise have to pay extra USD 20–50. There are also spas that are located in a hotel, but do not have full facilities or only mini-size sauna but available at no extra charge. Moreover, some spas provide a small powder room for makeup touch-up after spa services.
Roadside spas, also known as urban spas, are another type commonly found in city. In general, it is a salon providing full services (hair, makeup, nail and spa). Some of salons use water machine (mostly hydro bath tub), special mask and techniques. And in some cases, VAT is added depending on whether a customer has signed up for membership.

 In addition, there are private spa/aesthetics shops and shops in medical institutions run as a shop-in-shop for skincare and regeneration treatment after medical surgery.

 The concept is another way of classifying spas: luxury vs. mass and artificial vs. nature. For example, Guerlain and Lush spas are luxury brand spas located in hotels, while naturalism-oriented roadside spas are mass spas. And you will be able to tell the difference between Medical Spa and Yakson House (spa brand in Korea for health) by their name.

 This is the end of my first column about spas. I hope you found my column useful. In the next column, I will bring more useful and interesting information. Thank you.